Portable bridge section connection

Claim 1

A bridge system for stacked mounting on a transport vehicle, which includes a first bridge section and a second bridge section movable vertically toward each other for fully automatic interchangeable coupling connection therebetween; said bridge sections being adapted selectively to be placed into transporting position in which one bridge section is located above the other bridge section, and from said transporting position into bridging position in which said bridge sections are longitudinally aligned with each other; each of said bridge sections having upper chord means and lower chord means; jaw clutch means respectively arranged on those portions of said lower chord means of said bridge sections which in bridging position thereof are adjacent to each other, said jaw clutch means including head and socket mating portions vertically insertable one in the other for interlocking engagement to hold said bridge sections against relative longitudinal movement in said bridging position and with mating surfaces so formed that only instant prevailing forces in direction of travel path thereon can be transmitted thereby, the mating surfaces on the head portion converging upwardly and downwardly from the central engaging surfaces and the mating surfaces on the socket portion diverging upwardly and downwardly from the central engaging surfaces, thereby providing spaces above and below said central engaging surfaces when engaged for transmission of forces in the direction of travel so that said portions and bridge sections are angularly movable slightly about a horizontal axis, and longitudinally engageable projecting and recessed means associated with those portions of said upper chord means which in Bridging position of said bridge sections are adjacent to each other for preventing relative vertical sliding movement of said bridge sections in bridging position thereof and maintaining said head and socket elements in engagement, so that only forces at right angles to travel path thereon can be transmitted thereby.